Problem: There were no organized U.S. support services for caregiving children and adolescents yet they, like their adult family caregiver counterparts, incurred consequences from caregiving in their health, well-being, education, and in their lives.
Background of Evidence: For more than a decade researchers in the U.K. and more recently in Australia have documented and addressed the issues surrounding "young carers". The first U.S. study, released in September 2005, documented that there are at least 1.3-1.4 million caregiving youth of whom 72% care for a grandparent or parent. Those most adversely affected live in single parent and lower income homes. In 2002, Palm Beach County research revealed a high prevalence of caregiving responsibilities among students as well as negative ramifications on their education. Among middle school students, those most affected were minority boys who attend Title I schools. Palm Beach County population demographics include a higher than U.S. norm older population, younger disabled, single parent households, prevalence of HIV/AIDS, grandparents as parents, and cultural/ethnic diversity all of which compounds and contributes to a high prevalence of family health and caregiving situations.
Project Description: In response to the issues and as a natural extension of their core services, Volunteers for the Homebound and Family Caregivers (VHFC), now Ameriocan Association of Caregiving Youth (AACY), established the first U.S. Caregiving Youth Project (CYP) with the objectives of education and awareness, research, and direct services. At this time, the Caregiving Youth Partners' Project (CYPP) is creating an evaluation-based model among middle school student-caregivers to address caregiving ramifications including isolation and activity restrictions that may hinder their psychosocial, emotional, developmental, physical health, education opportunities, and well-being. CYPP offers in-school counseling, didactic and informal education, skills building, family evaluation to assure linkages to existing services, and sponsored activities including the CYPP club as students progress to high school to increase caregiving children's satisfaction with life and decrease somatization, depression, anxiety, and poor coping strategies.
Project Objectives: The broad mission of the CYPP is to return to caregiving youth some of their childhood back by identifying, educating, and supporting caregiving middle school students. Specifically, the CYPP will: a) Increase awareness of caregiving youth issues throughout the Palm Beach County health and education communities; b) Identify and prioritize students in most need of services through survey and assessment; c) Reduce anxiety, depression and increase caregiving children's satisfaction with life through the provision of counseling, education, and support services including respite and sponsored activities; and d) Conduct in-home evaluations to link families with existing support services; and e) Build a replicable project model.
Program Sustainability: The CYPP is working closely and cooperatively with the Safe Schools Program of the School District of Palm Beach County, the umbrella for drop-out prevention activities. The Silent Epidemic reports that among students who drop out of school for personal reasons, 22% do so to care for a family member. We will compare the drop out rate of students in a control group vs. those receiving CYPP support. As a means of drop out prevention and associated dollars, with support, caregiving youth should be able to remain in school.
Project Funding: The Schmidt Family Foundation and The Toppel Family Foundation have built a coalition of committed and pending funding partners including Palm Healthcare Foundaton, Gertrude E. Skelly Charitable Foundation, The Jim Moran Foundation, P.L. Dodge Foundation, John W. Henry Foundation, the Lattner Family Foundation, BankAtlantic Foundation and most recently the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Local Initiative Funding Partners. The CYPP budget from July 2007 - June 2111 is 2.4 million dollars with more than $800,000 arising from in-kind contributions of collaborative partners. With funding of $500,000 from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and $570,000 from local partners, VHFC still needs to raise $516,535 to meet the CYPP financial needs.
Highlights
American Association of Caregiving Youth
Continuing Care
CYP Schools
CYP High Schools
CYP Middle Schools
Events
Writings and Art of Caregiving Youth
Important!
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